The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-28
THE LATTER.
New Orleans Times Democrat Trantlatioi
from tho French.

curing the Datnlng season, That VINE.
Alice Vivien FIRST met Roger de
Beaumont.
Roger was finding the hours quite
tedious at that domestic resort.
He had noticed Mime. Vivien, who
was by far the prettiest Of all the
lair bathers at the place, aud he
thought that counting her would be
avery pleasant way Of varying the
monotonous life he was leading.
- Nine. Vivien dwelt in pretty cot.
tage by the seaside. Her husband,
detained in Paris by his business,
could only manage to come down
once a week and remain with her
from Saturday to Monday.
At the age Of seventeen Alice had
been married to Mr.. Viyien, a gen.
tleman tbirty-fve years Of age whose
devotion to her was q blending Of
love with fatherly tenderness.
She was an honest, upright woman,
who would have repulsed Roger dc
Beaumont had he begun by making
love TO her.
But the young man was too shrewd
TO proceed in this way. He under
stood the yound woman's ingenious
heart, and he endeavored to gain her
confidence by slow degrees.
He was the ideal Of her most Sc
cret thoughts; in a months time he
had gained her love, even before she
herself was aware of il.
Roger, himself, was beginning TO
take an interest in the game he was
playing. He even felt q growing pas
sion for that adorable and artless
young woman, and, one evening while
with her at the pierhead, where they
had gone to enjoy the breeze, he ex-
claimed in voice full Of emotion:
II love you'll
She tried TO make him hush, to
show that she was offended; but he,
whose ardor and boldness seemed
heightened by the charm and poetry
OF the delightful evening, continued
in a passionate tone:
II have loved yeu since the first
day | saw YOU. And you have loved
me tool | know il; | feel it. Only
let me worship you. Don't avoid
me, don't repulse mel
- " Hush for Heavens sake, hush !"
n, oh do not answer me in that
tllway; me, who adore you let me hope
~ that you will say you love me"
As. he looked at her she seemed
ready to faint; shining tear drops
were yelling in her eyes, and her
little hand quivered like a captive
bird.
Let me 70" said she in a voice
scarcely audible.
He escorted her to her gate, aud,
bowling low, he said: shall ex.
pect an answer; il will be a sentence
OF death or a command to live"
An avowal would perhaps have es.
capped from Alice's lips had not the
noise Of footsteps aud the sound OF
voices fallen on her ear.
Dreading to be seen, and already
as timorous az n guilty pei sou, the
young woman withdrew and hastily
entered the house.
" | love him, too Il love him ~
murmured she, and remembering
how anxiously the young man had
wished for al avowal OF her love
feeling her heart overlooking, she
hastily wrote with feverish hand,
Roger, love you, aud shall i'm
patiently wait Tor Tomorrow.
"ALIOR."
She smiled while thinking of the
gladness that would Gil Rogers heart
when he read her letter, aud, not.
withstapding the lateness Of the hour
she fastened out 10 drop il in the let.
ter box.
She bad barely returned 10 tho
house when 4 vague feeling OF dread
began TO Cypress her. The intoxi.
eating charm that had possessed her
was dissipated, and, 10 hsr mind
sJfme the picture OF her husband, Sc
cop6ding aud loving.
The next day, from the moment
she awoke, she had but one thought
TO get back her letter.
About 4 o'clock in the Afternoon
she went 10 the casino where she wa,
sure 10 find Roger, who, as soon A,
he saw her, advanced with ont
stretched hands, his eyes beamins
with triumphal JOY.
"Sir," said she yesterday had !
moment Of folly forget il please
do not love you, | swear Ill / hav,
never ioved you, and | shall never
love yoG.-no, never
Roger. disappointed, looked at her
wicked emile PLAYING about his Inns
"You Gro m adorable, oapriciou,
woman" said he, somewhat insolent
ly, 10 conceal his vexation.
"Oh | sir, do bot be unkind. Please
give me hack the letter | 80 ioolishly
sent you"
"But appreciate your letter very
much. IL il charming.
"Sr, ] am faithful wife, and
love my husband"
The young man smiled again, and
leaning toward Alice. he looked
straight into her eyes as ho said:
II haven't your letter with me.
carefully locked IL up at home"
The young man stepped back in
stinctively.
BE generous, Cor heavens sake'
Do what | ak. | 90 not wish 20 sec
you again. Send me back my letter
i beseech you. Return II to me-
through the posiofhec.
She begged him with clasped
= hands, her lace pale with anguish.
= "Perhapsl" replied the yount
man deliberately, bowling gracefully
as he started of. ,
She felt like following him, 20 tel
him how angry she was, but, some o
her friends coming up, she wa
obliged 10 stop and talk 10 thea
about indifferent and frivolous mat.
ters,while her very soul was tortured